Sheet handling and stacking methods and apparatus

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for handling or for stacking sheets provide servo power and pass the sheets seriatim from a first region to a second region. The provided servo power is transmitted through each of the sheets during passage thereof from the first region to the second region and the sheets are handled or stacked in the second region with the transmitted servo power.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for handling sheets, comprising in combination: means for driving said sheets seriatim from a first region to a second region, including drive roller means for engaging each sheet, and means connected to said drive roller means for rotating said drive roller means to propel each engaged sheet to said second region;   slidable means in said second region for receiving said propelled sheets;   means operatively associated with said slidable means for incrementally actuating said slidable means;   secondary roller means disengaged from said drive roller means;   means for positioning the secondary roller means for engagement and rotation by each sheet engaging said drive roller means; and   means connected to said secondary roller means and said actuating means for transmitting operating power from said rotating secondary roller means to said actuating means.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said actuating means include a thumper biased in a first sense for retaining sheets in said slidable means; and   said transmitting and operating means include means coupled to said thumper for moving said thumper in a second sense during rotation of said secondary roller means for clearance of said slidable means to receive any propelled sheet.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said transmitting and operating means include resilient power transmitting means between said secondary roller means and said thumper.   
     
     
       4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said transmitting and operating means include an eccentric pulley connected to said thumper and engaged by said resilient power transmitting means and presenting to said resilient power transmitting means a decreasing effective radius upon said movement of said thumper in said second sense.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said driving means include sensing means for sensing a jammed sheet condition at said drive roller means.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said driving means include a deflectable guide plate at said drive roller means; and   sensing means engageable by said deflectable guide plate for sensing deflection of said guide plate by a jammed sheet.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus for handling sheets, comprising in combination: means for driving said sheets seriatim from a first region to a second region including drive roller means and nip roller means for jointly engaging each sheet, and means connected to said drive roller means for rotating said drive roller means to propel each engaged sheet to said second region;   slidable means in said second region for receiving said propelled sheets;   means operatively associated with said slidable means for incrementally actuating said slidable means;   a pulley disengaged from said drive roller means and positioned for engagement and rotation by each sheet engaged by said drive and nip roller means; and   means connected to said pulley and said actuating means for transmitting operating power from said rotating pulley to said actuating means.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said nip roller means includes two spaced nip roller sections having said pulley situated therebetween for engagement by each propelled sheet.   
     
     
       9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said drive roller means includes two spaced drive roller sections; and   said apparatus includes a free running auxiliary roller located between said spaced drive roller sections and operatively associated with said pulley.